Chapter 311: A Rare Talent Through the Ages: Wan Wan Zhuliu

Boom!

Thunder erupted from the mountain; beasts of every kind panicked. Wide swaths of shrubs, earth, and stone were torn apart by the blast and flung in all directions. The level grassland was trampled as if by a herd of elephants, reduced to ruins.

Lin Jia, in a single black robe, wielded his blade like a dragon. His swordsmanship was broad and bold; between attack and defense it was seamless as a perfect fit. In motion it was like a silver moon scattering light, like quicksilver poured across the ground, slipping into every gap.

In defense, it was like a silver moon hanging in the sky, perfectly complete.

"Good!"

Li Yuan lifted his hammer and advanced. His speed was absolutely swift; again and again he could dodge the killing edge of the blade in the flash of lightning, then answer back with a heavy hammer.

His hammer technique moved like thunder, fell like a mountain. Between each step and shift of stance, his momentum was as vast as a ten-thousand-zhang peak, ancient and solemn, carrying a sense of boundless weight.

The Hundred Beasts Thunder Dragon merged many forms and could, in an instant, draw out the strengths of each. Within Li Yuan's hammer technique lay the explosive force of Heaven-Shaker and the heavy weight of Dragon-Elephant Strike.

The two combined, vast as the great earth.

"Worthy of the Vice Hall Master level!"

After reaching the fifth floor, Li Yuan did not rush to push horizontally; instead he savored this rare experience, using Lin Jia as a whetstone to grind his various Wu Gong.

The Long Long Daozhu within the Bronze Tower's divine realm was strong beyond comprehension; every grueling battle forced him to exhaust every means, leaving him utterly spent. Yet within this tower, Li Yuan felt the joy of combat.

Various moves and Wu Gong were unleashed at will; footwork and lightness skill shifted and changed, making him for a moment reluctant to speed-clear.

Bang!

After a long while, Li Yuan had performed the dozens of Wu Gong he had learned many times over, and only then, with reluctance, shattered the moon-like blade-light. The first battle of the fifth floor was over.

"Using that Long Long Daozhu as a reference, if Lin Lin Fangzhui went all out, he might be able to take one or two strikes, or perhaps not even one from Lin Jia. At the very least, he could withstand eight or nine!"

The heavy hammer planted on the ground, Li Yuan felt a sweat-drenched exhilaration, a sense of clarity, as if from head to toe he had reviewed all his Wu Gong.

"That Long Long Daozhu is truly terrifyingly strong. A master of the Dao Sect's Vice Hall Master level can, at the same rank, withstand at most eight or nine strikes. What about Hall Master level!"

After the battle ended, Li Yuan sat cross-legged, secretly shocked within.

Among the eighteen Vice Hall Masters of Dragon Tiger Nine Halls, Lin Jia might not stand out, but he was by no means the weakest. The elders of the other great Dao Sects should differ little.

Such a figure, set against the entire jianghu, would be a top-tier master, outstanding in both talent and lineage.

'Could that Long Long Daozhu really be the Martial-Suppressing King, Wan Wan Zhuliu?'

Li Yuan swallowed a few pills. After a brief rest he rose, and met the fifth floor's second battle. The second battle was also an old acquaintance.

A loose dark robe, beard and hair jet-black, eyebrows silver-white, hands empty—it was none other than Gong Gong Jiuchuan, famed throughout Mount Hengshan for his 'Dragon Tiger True Gang.'

"Senior Brother Gong hides his depth well."

Li Yuan clicked his tongue in wonder.

"Being able to appear here shows at least that Gong Gong Jiuchuan has Vice Hall Master level combat power.

But he wasn't surprised; as the personal disciple of the Sect Master, it would be strange if he had nothing extraordinary about him."

"Come."

Li Yuan lifted his hammer and invited the fight; today he wanted to fight to his heart's content.

……

……

"Martial Uncle Li, fourth floor……"

"Martial Uncle Li has reached the fifth floor! His ranking has already surpassed Martial Uncle Lin Jia!"

"He's slowed down. He's finally slowed down."

"And this counts as slow? Martial Uncle Douyue only just reached the fourth floor……"

Outside the Dragon Tiger Pagoda, an uproar broke out. The various discussions drew even more onlookers. Watching the names climbing ceaselessly on the great stele, whether disciples of Dragon Tiger Monastery or elders of other sects, all were shaken.

Strong as Pei Jiu was, even he had entered the tower many times over this month before finally reaching the fifth floor. To reach the fifth floor on a first entry, and at such speed—

Not to mention ordinary inner disciples, even the helmsmen and elders who came upon hearing the news felt it was terrifying.

"Junior Brother Li……"

Watching the name on the great stele flash as it drew near his own, Xin Xin Wenhua's heart was truly complicated. When he had heard of the 'Azure Dragon Shadow Manifesting,' he had imagined such a day would come.

But he had thought it would take at least ten or twenty years, or at the very least, five?

Xin Xin Wenhua's breathing grew rapid; he felt his heart grow heavy.

"How long has it been? Even with Uncle Long's full nurturing, could it be this fast? Or has Uncle Long already chosen to pass on his legacy to him?"

"A once-in-an-age talent."

In a corner, Shan Hong stood with his sword in his arms. His expression was calm, yet his heart could not settle no matter what. For the second time in his life he felt a crushing sense of defeat.

He had been born with the Great Dragon Physique, and possessed a Sword Heart of Pure Clarity—a sword-path prodigy the prefecture saw once in a century. Before the age of sixteen he was already famous across the land.

From Youzhou to Mount Hengshan, from Gang Sword Sect to Dragon Tiger Monastery, from inner disciple to true lineage, he had faced almost no equal—until he met Long Long Xinglie, and felt defeat for the first time in his life.

Now, for the second time.

"Those who reign through talent will, in the end, be defeated by those of greater talent."

Shan Hong suddenly recalled a prodigy from many years ago, who had been utterly defeated beneath his sword. That prodigy had come from a lesser commandery, had once been famous for a time, and in the end fell to his blade.

"Huu!"

Letting out a long breath of stale air, Shan Hong walked toward the great stele.

On the great stele listing hundreds, even thousands, of names, six or seven still shone. The most dazzling among them were, naturally, Pei Jiu and Li Yuan.

The two surged forward with great momentum. After reaching the fifth floor they had slowed, yet had not stopped, seeming poised to charge into the sixth.

"Martial Uncle Li is about to catch up to Pei Jiu!"

"A clash of once-in-an-age talents!"

"Are they going to reach the sixth floor?"

At the great stele, the clamor rose wave upon wave, so much so that it made people forget the Dragon Tiger Pagoda itself.

From the tower gate, left slightly ajar, a cold-eyed youth stepped out with a sword on his back. Someone cried out "Pei Jiu!" and the surrounding clamor immediately quieted considerably.

"Pei Jiu's name has gone out — he's lost…"

Someone cried out and turned back, but upon seeing Pei Jiu's cold, stern expression, immediately swallowed their words.

"Lost?"

Pei Jiu shot a glance at that person, paid no heed to the hostility of the surrounding Longhu Temple disciples, smiled faintly, and was just about to leave when another cry rang out:

"He's overtaken him!"

"Martial Uncle Li has overtaken Pei Jiu—"

Whoosh!

Sword Qi swept like wind; before anyone saw him move, Pei Jiu was already beneath the giant stele. He looked up — above his extinguished name, another name shone brilliantly.

Pei Jiu narrowed his eyes; the long sword at his back hummed and sang:

"Li Yuan?"

……

Whooosh~

The wind howled, stirring the grass, trees, and green hills.

"Vivid as life itself."

Jin Jin Shengwu reached out to touch the gentle breeze, feeling out this Mi Jing of nourishment. Even though it wasn't his first time seeing it, his heart could not help but be moved:

"If our kind had no two-hundred-year lifespan, and cultivated year after year, could the Shen Jing Hou Zhong also reach such a realm?"

"It cannot."

Long Xi Xiang shook his head.

"This old man feels it certainly must be possible."

Jin Jin Shengwu glared at him.

"At least, you and I cannot."

Long Xi Xiang reached out and plucked a few wild grasses, blew gently, and the grasses dissolved into Longhu Longhu Dandan true Qi that drifted away:

"When Qi merges with spirit, the size and density of the Shen Jing Hou Zhong is tied not only to one's own spirit, but also to true Qi. For one's Shen Jing Hou Zhong to become a Shan Xuan Bing Mi Jing, unless one has several hundred Qi Seas."

"Several hundred Qi Seas."

Jin Jin Shengwu's eyes flickered: "It is said that grandmasters who cultivated the Xiu Bai Shen Fa to enter the Dao possessed multiple Qi Seas…"

"Multiple, and several hundred are not to be mentioned in the same breath."

Long Xi Xiang walked slowly: "Senior brother's Shen Jing Hou Zhong far surpasses yours and mine, but even his Cloud Mist Mountain is still far from comparable to a Mi Jing of nourishment."

"What if the Longhu Dao Lord advances one more step?"

Jin Jin Shengwu shot him a glance.

"I don't know."

Long Xi Xiang said nothing and quickened his pace.

After the Longhu Pagoda moved out the Mi Jing of nourishment, the Mi Jing felt somewhat desolate, with only a sparse few disciples tending the spirit fields.

The two walked quickly, and in no time had arrived at the main peak — Long Yingchán's residence.

"Martial Uncle, Elder Jin."

A youth with an honest, wooden-faced look had been waiting here for some time, and bowed slightly in greeting.

"Long time no see. Long Yunfeng, your Wu Gong has improved considerably — in a few more years you may attempt a breakthrough."

Jin Jin Shengwu recognized this youth — he was Long Yingchán's third disciple, a few years older than Long Long Xinglie.

"Hard."

Long Long Yunfeng shook his head slightly and invited the two elders into the courtyard: "Master has been waiting for some time."

"A heart growing on the right side isn't all that rare — one can only say Senior Ku Xin's luck was too poor. Had the blade pierced his right chest back then, Wan Wan Zhuliu might have died many years ago."

"Perhaps."

Long Yingchán invited the two to sit.

Jin Jin Shengwu didn't dwell on it further; he flipped through a few pages, then returned the book. At this moment Long Long Yunfeng also brought wine and dishes.

Over the meal, the three conversed happily, speaking of events from many years ago, the great and small affairs of the jianghu, and the purpose of Jin Jin Shengwu's visit.

"All treatment at Yellow Dragon Manor remains unchanged, but within a hundred years, if there is no grandmaster…"

"Then, that is fate."

Having received the promise, Jin Jin Shengwu felt some relief in his heart and cupped his hands in thanks.

"A hundred years is already not short…"

Long Xi Xiang had nothing to say either. The Hengshandao Sect numbered in the hundreds of sects, and this was already an enormous preferential treatment.

Jin Jin Shengwu understood this reasoning and let the topic pass, turning instead to inquire about Long Xi Xiang's injuries.

"An injury to the Shen Jing Hou Zhong is extremely hard to remove. Wan Wan Zhuliu's blade intent — few in this world can remove it. Even this old man cannot."

Mentioning this matter, Long Yingchán could not help but sigh.

With his current Di Wei Wu Gong, there were few things he could not accomplish — yet this one was among them.

"Wan Wan Zhuliu is a man rarely seen across the ages."

Recalling the thousand fierce battles before, Jin Jin Shengwu could not help feeling some emotion: "Speaking across the ages, even counting those few legendary ancestors, I fear no one could surpass this man."

Long Xi Xiang silently raised his wine cup.

"What about the Dragon Demon Daoist, Pang Pang Wenlong?"

"I don't know."

The atmosphere grew somewhat heavy. It was still Long Xi Xiang who raised his cup. Though he had not slept for many days, he seemed far more spirited than before. He toasted the two with a cup and asked:

"Senior brother, has the Longhu Nourishing-Life Pill already begun its furnace?"

"It has opened."

Long Yingchan set down his wine cup, a shadow of gloom inevitably darkening his eyes.

Long Xi Xiang, once possessing peerless talent and standing closer to the Di Shen Xian Jing than even he, but now...

"Junior brother, you..."

"A final gamble: succeed and we succeed, fail and we die; that is far better than dragging out such a wretched existence."

Long Xi Xiang's expression remained calm, as if he had laid down every burden.

Long Yingchan and the other stood in silence, gazing at one another.

"Master, Junior Uncle..."

At that moment, footsteps approached from outside. Long Long Yunfeng hurried over, shock evident even on his dull face:

"Junior Brother Li has ascended six floors of the tower, ranking second on the Dragon List."